Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in Georgia. The impact of Alzheimer’s is projected to rise, and the most recent data show:

• 188,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in Georgia.
• 11% of people aged 45 and older have subjective cognitive decline.
• 374,000 family caregivers bear the burden of the disease in Georgia.
• 755 million hours of unpaid care provided by Alzheimer’s caregivers.
• $11.4 billion is the value of the unpaid care.
• $1.5 billion is the cost of Alzheimer’s to the state Medicaid program.

These numbers show that a public health approach is necessary to lessen the burden and enhance the quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment and their families.

Learn more about Georgia: Alzheimer’s Statistics (PDF), Cognitive Decline (PDF), Dementia Caregiving (PDF), Risk Factors (PDF), County-Level Alzheimer's Prevalence (PDF)

Tribes in your state

Use the HBI Road Map for American Indian and Alaska Native Peoples to start conversations with tribal leaders on public health actions that can be taken to support brain health and caregivers. Find tribal leaders and federally recognized tribes in your state: Tribal Leaders Directory.

Public health spotlight

In Georgia, the Workforce Development workgroup of the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force developed health care provider training on dementia, early detection and diagnosis and caregiver health.

The Georgia Department of Public Health developed and distributed a public awareness campaign — Think About It. The campaign educates the public about cognitive health, encourages individuals experiencing cognitive concerns to talk to a health care provider, and provides tools for clinicians to identify warning signs and how to utilize the cognitive health benefit of Medicare’s annual wellness visit. The campaign was promoted through public transit ads.

In September 2020, the Georgia Department of Public Health received an enhanced Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Program Award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

State plan overview

In 2013, the Georgia General Assembly established the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan Task Force through passage of Senate Bill 14 to research the current and future impact of the disease and develop a strategy to mobilize the state response to the growing public health threat posed by Alzheimer’s. The Task Force included representatives from state agencies — including the Georgia Department of Public Health — local health departments, research institutes, law enforcement, care provider associations, elder law and community organizations as well as state legislators, caregivers, community members and individuals directly impacted by Alzheimer’s. Building upon previous work completed by the Georgia Division of Aging Services, and the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, the Task Force solicited public input and drafted the Georgia Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias State Plan. The plan was published in June 2014. The State Commissioner of Public Health has held a seat on the Task Force and Advisory Council since its inception.

Resources for action

State and local public health agencies around the country are taking action against Alzheimer’s by implementing the Healthy Brain Initiative: State and Local Road Map for Public Health, 2023–2027. Public health practitioners can learn by example and find resources to help guide their response below.